Week 24 | 5th November 2006 |
Winner: Bruce Spencer
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida, USA
Info: Father of 2, Maintenance Man, Age 33
After a dominant performance, Bruce began heads-up play in the final hand with 7 times the chips of his opponent. The contest was all over in 5 hands when John Weber bluffed off all of his entire stack against Bruce's top pair.
He says of his win;
"Coming in I knew chip management would be the key to success. I kept things really simple, I managed to get all of the chips." |
Week 23 | 29th October 2006 |
Winner: Victoria Wale
Hometown: Buckinghamshire, England
Info: Web Designer, Age 27.
In the final hand, Victoria was down to the felt after John Brand Jr. broke her Pocket Aces. She fought her way back and Brand was forced to go all-in with his remaining 4 chips and was eliminated.
Victoria says of her win:
"The key for me was changing gears. I quickly became heads-up and the chip leader. I still can't believe I won. I can't wait to come back and play again!" |
Week 22 | 22nd October 2006 |
Winner: D.K. Thomas
Hometown:San Bruno, CA, USA
Info: Mortgage Consultant, Age 34
In the final hand, D.K. finally had his opponent Casey Stribling on the ropes. Stribling was forced to call all-in with a dominated hand and D.K. eliminated her.
He says of his victory:
"I stayed with my strategy tonight. I played aggressive early then switched to conservative and finally back to aggressive. I was confident coming in, but I really can't believe I just won $25,000". |
Week 21 - Semifinal | 15th October 2006 |
Winner: Jerry Schrader
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Info: Father of 1,
Locksmith, Age 36
In the final hand, chip leader Jerry chose to only call the blind with his AK. Marlon Delinois saw an opportunity and went all-in with A6. A King came on the flop and Delinois was eliminated.
Jerry became the third finalist at the $1,000,000 Table; he says of his win:
"Once I got short stacked my only strategy was to double-up. I did it 6 times and here I am with a giant cheque for $50,000." |
Week 20 | 8th October 2006 |
Winner: Marlon Delinois
Hometown:Spring Valley, NY USA
Info: Engaged (the night before the game),
Prosthetic Limb Inspector, Age 24
In the final hand, Reality TV star "Boston" Rob Mariano, attempted to set a trap by checking a top pair after the flop but Marlon would not bite. On the river, Marlon completed his straight and went all-in. Mariano called and was eliminated. Marlon won $25,000 and the final seat at the third Semi-Final Table.
Marlon says of his win:
"I figure any two cards can be great partners and win any hand." |
Week 19 | 1st October 2006 |
Winner: Jon Davies
Hometown: Shropshire, UK
Info: Father of 3, Website Developer, Age 51.
With chip stacks close to even, Jon slow played pocket 99. His opponent Mark Deacon went all-in after the flop with QJ but no pair and no draw. Jon quickly called and became the fifth qualifier for the third Semi-Final Table. Jon says of his win:
"I had a good luck card from my poker mentor Val. It read 'Fate deals the cards, we just get to play them.' This became my strategy, I played the cards." |
Week 18 | 24th September 2006 |
Winner: Bill Sheldon
Hometown:Cape May, NJ, USA
Info: Bill was ahead when he pushed all-in with the chip lead and pocket Queens.
His opponent Greg Hawko called when he looked down and saw his poker hero's favourite hand, The Brunson Tc 2c. Hawko didn't get the same luck with ten deuce as Doyle Brunson and handed the tournament and $25000 to Bill.
Bill says of his win: "How I won the tournament after losing a hand that had 21 outs I will never know." |
Week 17 | 17th September 2006 |
Winner: Jerry Schraders
Hometown: Virginia, USA
Info: Father of 1, Locksmith, Age 36.
Ian Day went all-in on the first hand of heads-up play. Jerry made the impossible call with only a middle pair. The pair of fives proved to be effective and he won $25000 and the third seat at the Semi-Final table.
Jerry says of his win: "There were three diamonds on the board and none in my hand. When Ian hesitated I felt I had a shot." |
Week 16 | 10th September 2006 |
Winner: Jason Martyn
Hometown: Suffolk, UK
Info: Electrical Foreman, Age 37.
Jason held the advantage against Brian Copeland who was down to the felt and forced to call All-In with 9 6 off-suit. Copeland saw a ray of hope with a 6 on the turn but it was extinguished when the King came on the river. "I played tight early, but when no one became the aggressor I decided I would and it paid off." |
Week 15 | 3rd September 2006 |
Winner: Gagan Virk
Hometown: CA, USA
Info: Quality Assurance (QA) Supervisor in a Medical Corporation, Age 30.
Heads-up play between expected Poker Pro winner Ted Milikian and long shot Gagan Virk resulted in 77 hands of play with Milikian going all-in before the flop. The board came 7 Q J K 9 and Virk won $25,000. Gagan says of his triumph "I wasn't hitting hands at the beginning, but I knew eventually they would start coming...finally they did, and they did VERY nicely." |
Week 14 | Semi Final - 27th August 2006 |
Winner: Rodel Tuazon
Hometown: Iowa, USA
Info: Mortgage Clerk , Age 40.
Rodel hooked the $50,000 prize this week when he flopped a dominating pocket pair of Aces vs Reg Brittain's 33. Tuazon called the pre-flop raise, flop came 522. Brittain went all-in at the last moment on the clock and was quickly called. No help came and Rodel became the winner and the second qualifier at the $1,000,000 table. |
Week 13 | 20th August 2006 |
Winner: Rick Berger
Hometown:Melbourne, Florida USA
Info: Age 44 , Father of 2.
Truck Driver. Rick was victorious this week when Misato Black chose to slow-play pocket jacks before the flop. He is the final seat winner at next week’s $50,000 Table.
Rick says of his brilliant win: "The approach I take is that it’s not bluffing if you’re convinced your 9 high IS the best hand". |
Week 12 | 13th August 2006 |
Winner: Ed Betzel
Info: No heads-up play this week resulted in Ed winning in a double know-out AJ off-suit against J 10 and J 6.
Ed says of his triumph, "I played position all night, raising on the button and buying blinds." He takes home $25,000 and goes through to the next round. |
Week 11 | 7th August 2006 |
Winner: Stan Poczatek
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia USA
Info: Art Director.
Stan Poczatek went all-in on the river with the Nut Flush to win this weeks challenge against his opponent Georgi Bulev, who called with 2 pair. Stan says of his incredible win, "My strategy was to make the other players pay to play their cards... I raised a lot, the strategy seemed to work for me". |
Week 10 | 30th July 2006 |
Winner: Rodel Tuazon
Info: The amateur who outclassed Poker Pro Player Tony G in a fantastic win at the debut of The Poker Dome Challenge in its new permanent home of the Neonopolis, Las Vegas. Rodel goes through to compete in the next round for 50K. |
Week 9 | 23rd July 2006 |
Winner: Neil Jones
Hometown: MN, USA
Info: 26 year old Semi Pro Footballer
His aggressive Poker style, comes from the other game he plays – Gridiron. |
Week 8 | 16th July 2006 |
Winner: Reg Brittain
Hometown:MA, USA
Info: Last time he was in Vegas was 5 years ago, played BJ all day long and lost more dollars than he wanted to, so now BJ is behind him and he sticks to POKER. |
Week 7 | Semi Final – 9th July 2006 |
Winner: Andrew Rogers
Hometown: Montgomery, MN, USA
Info: When he first came to Las Vegas, he came with $100 in his pocket and left with $25000 with his winnings he bought himself a new car. 5 weeks later he came to the 1st Semi Final and left with $50000 and now takes a seat in the Final on March 17th, 2007. He says no one new who Andrew Rogers was before this, now the whole town knows and Andrew gets stopped in the street all the time. |
Week 6 | 2nd July 2006 |
Winner: Robert Brown
Hometown: Shawassee, MI, USA
Info: When he was younger, wished to be a baseball pro, now aspires to be a poker professional. |
Week 5 | 25th June 2006 |
Winner: John Woods
Hometown: Abbeywood, UK
Info: 27 Year Old. Loves poker but dreams of being a football caller. |
Week 4 | 18th June 2006 |
Winner: Marissa Chein
Hometown: Henderson, NV, USA
Info: 33 Year Old |
Week 3 | 11th June 2006 |
Winner: John Bowman
Hometown:Surrey, UK
Info: 27 Year Old Technical Support Officer and self-confessed Poker Addict |
Week 2 | 4th June 2006 |
Winner: Andrew Rogers
Hometown: Montgomery, MN, USA
Info: 34 Year Old Self Employed father of three |
Week 1 | 28th May 2006 |
Winner: Rhowena Colclough
Hometown:Birmingham, UK
Info: 25 Year Old TV Presenter |
